Fourth of July Festivities to be a bang

MONTROSE- Montrose will see fireworks, a parade, tug-of-war contests, wheelbarrow races and much more this weekend at the Fourth of July SummerFest event.

What was in limbo earlier this year because of the rough economy, SummerFest, the annual day-long celebration of the nation's independence, is set to go thanks to the Montrose Area Merchants Association, which funded the entire event.

At the beginning of the year, the city made cuts across the board, including funding for SummerFest. That's when the local merchants of MAMA stepped up and provided the resources needed to keep the event alive.

In addition, SummerFest's location on the property behind Target in the River Landing Shopping Center was donated for the day's use by the property's owner.

"Everybody came together as a community to put this event together," said Polly Hohlenkamp, an organizer of the event working for Leadership Circle, the real estate development group.

The Fourth of July Parade will kick off Saturday's celebration beginning at 10 a.m. The parade on Main Street begins at Pythian and runs to Selig.

Starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, SummerFest will feature a live DJ, helicopter rides, wheelbarrow and three-legged races, tug-of-war, face-painting, motorcycle exhibitions, and the carry-a-wife race.

Sponsored by the local jewelers, the carry-a-wife race will see husbands carry their wives 30 yards before dropping them onto a bed on wheels that husbands push to the finish. First place prize is jewelry from one of the local jewelers.

For SummerFest's big finish, at 3 p.m. a helicopter will drop 5,000 ping pong balls each with a number representing a gift certificate. There is $50,000 worth of gift certificates in the prize pot.

"It's going to be a lot of fun and there will be many prizes available," Hohlenkamp said.

The annual firework show sponsored by the Montrose Rotary Club will finish out the day's celebration.

"People have said our fireworks show is the best in the area because of the finale," Montrose Rotary Co-Chairperson Joe Bagnara said. "They've asked that we do a bigger finale and this year's will be even bigger than last’s."

Shooting off from Sunset Mesa, the fireworks can best be seen from Cerise Park and Baldridge Park (Riverbottom Park).

"The best place to see the show, because not many people know about it, is Cerise Park," Bagnara said. "All the grass there is available and there is parking for 200 cars and the grass is now strong enough for people to bring in lawn chairs and coolers and just have a good time."

For more information and a map of all the Fourth of July festivities, visit the Daily Press website at www.montrosepress.com.

In addition to Montrose, surrounding areas such as Ouray and Telluride will have their own Fourth of July activities.

MONTROSE

• 10 a.m. — 4th of July parade from Pythian to Selig

• 11 a.m.-3 p.m. — SummerFest, located south of Target in an adjacent lot

• Dusk — Fireworks on Sunset Mesa

Information from www.montroseevents.com

TELLURIDE

• 10:40 a.m. — Honor Guard Ceremony on the courthouse steps

• 11 a.m. — 4th of July parade on Colorado Avenue

• 12-4 p.m. — Firemen's Barbeque in Town Park

• 1:30-2 p.m. — Parade Awards Presentation in Town Park

• 2 p.m. — Kid games in Town Park

• 12-5 p.m. — Root beer floats at Town Park and free enter to the Telluride Historical Museum

• Dark — Fireworks at Town Park

Information from www.telluride-co.gov

OURAY

• 6 a.m. — Breakfast at Ouray Community Center

• 8 a.m. — OURAYCE 10K walk/run between Ouray and Ridgway

• 10 a.m. — Parade on Main Street

• 11 a.m. — BBQ lunch at Centennial Park

• 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. — Zip-line rides by San Juan Mountain Guides ($10/ride at Upper Bridge of Ouray Ice Park)

• 2 p.m. — Water fight on Main Street

• 3 p.m. — San Juan Odyssey at Main Street Theater

• Dark — Jeep Parade and fireworks

Information from www.ouraycolorado.com